16-year-old, missing three weeks, is found

Pulaski County authorities say a 16-year-old who was missing for three weeks has returned home.

Vonquarius "Von" Gaston, who will turn 17 on April 22, had last been seen at his Southern Belle Drive home on March 25, Pulaski County sheriff's office Lt. Carl Minden said in a statement Wednesday morning. He returned home Wednesday evening, Minden said late Wednesday.

Authorities didn't say where the teen was staying while he was gone from home.

EARLIER:

Pulaski County authorities say a 16-year-old has been missing for three weeks.

Vonquarius "Von" Gaston, who will turn 17 on April 22, was last seen March 25 at his Southern Belle Drive home on March 25, Pulaski County sheriff's office Lt. Carl Minden said in a statement Wednesday.

The teen "has a history of running away but never stays gone more than three to four days," but he's been missing now three weeks, authorities said. He hasn't contacted any family or friends, and his parents "believe that he has no connection to local schools," so investigators have been left without leads, according to the sheriff's office.

Gaston was recently released from The BridgeWay psychiatric hospital, authorities said.

Those with information on his whereabouts are asked to call the sheriff's office's investigations division at (501) 340-6940 or the its 24-hour communications center at (501) 340-6963. Anonymous information can be left on the central Arkansas CrimeStoppers tip line at (501) 340-8477.